The Righteous Gemstones (2×07) And Infants Should Rule Over Them Review

For our review of the last episode of The Righteous Gemstones, click here.

Synopsis: With Eli temporarily out of the picture, the Gemstone siblings are left to quarrel over who’s in charge – until some wise words help pave a way forward. As Tiffany tracks down Baby Billy, Gideon faces his future. (HBO)

The Gemstone family is in flux as they deal with the turmoil of Eli’s recent assassination attempt at the hands of the cycle ninjas. From this, the Gemstone siblings are finally given a shot to rule the empire as Eli recovers. Naturally, Jesse takes this reluctant opportunity to assume the mantle as family leader, a position that he and Amber have been coveting for years, which gained recent traction after witnessing the Lissons’ wielded power over their own church after inheriting it from their family. But their transition to the main stage is not as easy as previously assumed and begins with a rocky attempt at fundraising on their father’s behalf. Adding to their chaotic ascension, Gideon uses this moment of change to indicate his desire to once again leave the nest and venture back into the world of stunt work, albeit this time with his parent’s blessing.

Meanwhile, the parenting skills of BJ and Judy are put on full display as they urge Tiffany Freeman, who’s been in their care since Baby Billy abandoned her for fear of fatherhood, to confront him via a mall parking lot intervention that goes terribly south and results in BJ being put over Baby Billy’s knee to be spanked like a child. In the end, Baby Billy reverts to his previous incorrect instincts running like hell in hilarious fashion away from those that love and need him. This time, he not only leaves Tiffany alone once again but also any hopes of livelihood for his abandoned family as his newly promoted health elixir products are strewn across the parking lot during a botched escape. In the end, Tiffany is left with BJ and Judy to pick up the pieces and begin figuring out her next move while her due date inches closer.

But the most important part of this episode arrives when Jesse seizes an opportunity to spring a trap using his father as bait for the cycle ninjas to return and finish the job. In doing so, the family rallies around his plan, opening the pathway that could cement Jesse’s legacy as leader within the family if successful. Right on cue, the cycle ninjas arrive to finish their earlier work only to be thwarted by Jesse, Martin, Gideon, and BJ whose surprise attack forces them to retreat allowing for Gideon to finish the job in spectacular fashion putting on full display his experience from the stunt industry to avenge his family.

In the end, the episode offered a humorous glimpse into what it will be like when the Gemstone children eventually take charge of the church that their parents worked so hard to build. In some ways, they seem ready for the task, but as Jesse and Amber experienced their moment in the spotlight it was able to expose their complete readiness for the full weight of what comes with that position. Still, in their own skewed ways, the Gemstones are trying their best to keep everything together during this tumultuous time and it is only time that will tell if their efforts were in vain. In the end, what they do have now is a hostage from the cycle ninjas who will hopefully give up who sent them. One thing is for certain, whatever pastoral talents that are lacking among the siblings, are made up by their proficiency in revenge and defending the Gemstone name at any cost.

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